Sara Ann O'Sullivan

I had wanted to make this week’s post a review of the new Resident Evil movie, but I decided to wait a week for that one. I felt like people should have the chance to go see it before reading a random review and wondering if they should. So next week, stay tuned for that. I am currently reading The Scottish Chiefs by Jane Porter, and that review may take a little bit to arrive since that is a dense book.

And while I was thinking about topics to write about this week, I was torn between writing a review of an older movie, tackling topics related to Bollywood movies, or just talking about life as a clinical student. Somehow, that led me to this topic: life without my coffee maker.

Now, just to paint the picture, the moving company hired for this move to clinicals has still not arrived with my things. And yes, I know that sounds slightly crazy since I have been here for five weeks, but at this point, it is what it is. I cannot make too many nice comments about that experience, so I will refrain from going on a rant. But one thing I can talk about is having to adapt.

Coffee is a cornerstone of my life. I do get caffeine headaches, and I have been trying to cut down on my caffeine intake. But right now, coffee is something that makes me happy in the morning, and I tend to focus on cutting back later in the day. In the mornings, coffee is a must for me, and without my French press, life has been different.

I am somewhat knowledgeable when it comes to coffee. I have worked as a barista, and that deepened my love for the drink. Now, I like to explore all the different options out there. Especially after deciding not to drink alcohol anymore, coffee became a nice way to try fancy drinks that taste good.

And I have my espresso machine with me, a little McCafe machine that can produce a decent amount of espresso, so I am learning to love the taste of Americanos. When my dad helped me move, he also left behind a jar of instant coffee that I have been putting to good use. But despite all the tastiness going around, there is still something different about coffee from my French press. There is something about a good cup of hot black coffee in the morning that just makes the world seem a little brighter. It’s like tasting a good chocolate bar.

So I have been learning to love other forms of coffee, like the Americanos I mentioned before. I have learned to make my own version of coffee concentrate. And while I already knew of cowboy coffee, I am learning to love that as well.

Life without my favorite coffee pot is teaching me how to be flexible, something that I tend to struggle with. I have deadlines and due dates built into my brain, and I want to meet them. But then I get humbled by things like movers not coming, and I learn that there are other ways to love coffee.

So, in a way, there is a lesson here, and it is a good one. It’s a life lesson about learning to go with the flow. When things happen that are out of your control, you can learn to enjoy the things that give you meaning in different ways.

So, to celebrate this life lesson and the little adventure I have been on, I wanted to share a coffee recipe I have been using in the kitchen:

• 4 ounces of espresso
• Honey to taste
• Ground cinnamon
• Vanilla extract
• Your chosen milk

Stir the honey into the warm espresso, then let it cool. Add it to a jar with the cinnamon, vanilla extract, and milk. Close the lid, shake it up, and pour over ice. Usually, I add more milk.

Anyways, thanks for being on this adventure with me, and I hope you have your favorite coffee pot sitting at home with you.